Welt guide



y 1950 J. s. SPATOLA 2,514,265

WELT cums Filed April 12, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

Q/aaWQE5a0f0/0 Patented July 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT corn WELT GUIDE Joseph S; Spatula, Waycross, Ga. Application April 12, 1948, Serial No. 20,451 3.01aims. (o1. '112 52) Thi invention relates to a welt guide for shoe sewing machines.

The invention is more particularly concerned with a welt guide for stitch-down shoe sewing machines, whereby an initially fiat welt strip is bent intermediate its edges and guided into the path of the sewing instrumentalities.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a welt guide in the form of a welt strip-directing slot formed in the work support of a stitch-down sewing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a welt guide which is in the form of an angular slot in the free end portion of a work support adjacent the needle and awl slot therein, the guide slot embodying a pair of branches substantially in right-angular relation, whereby the welt is bent intermediate its edges in its passage through the slot in the provision of a portion to be stitched in positionby the outseam and a portion for free engagement with the side walls of the upper of a shoe.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a welt guide which is relatively simple in construction, reliable in operation, and which is capable of manufacture at comparatively low cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken side elevational view of a portion of a stitch-down shoe sewing machine, showing the improved welt guide and a portion of a shoe in operative association therewith.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a work support embodying the welt guide and is an enlarged view of the work support shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the work support.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view in the plane of line 4-4 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the work support as observed in the plane of line 5-5 on Fig. 4, and showing in particular the angular welt guide slot.

Referring now in detail to the drawing by use of reference characters, F designates the frame of a standard stitch-down sewing machine having a curved hook needle N and a curved awl A.

A work support is designated at [0, and same is generally of the form now in use and embodies an attaching arm H and a work support proper l2. The arm H is provided with an open-ended slot l3 at its free end and a shouldered aperture I4 at a spaced distance from such end.

The slot I3 is adapted to receive a pin projecting from the lower inclined surface of the frame F, and the aperture I4 is adapted to removably receive a securing bolt which is threaded into said surface.

The work support comprises a tapered and curved free end l5, and a needle and awl slot I6 is formed in the work support adjacent said free end. The free end of the work support is provided with a welt guide slot which is angular in cross-section of the support and includes a substantially horizontal branch I1 and a branch 18 at a substantial angle to the portion l1.

It is to be particularly noted that the horizontal branch I! is disposed above the upper opening of the needle and awl slot I6, and that the branch [8 is disposed outwardly of the outer wall I9 of the needle and awl slot.

It is to be further noted that the welt guide slot extends through the end I5 of the work support from the lower inclined fiat wall and thence in an inclined direction toward the needle and awl slot and opening through the upper portion of the work support in advance of the needle and awl slot. Thus, the free curved end of the work support is imperforate and provides a smooth guiding surface for the shoe.

In operation, a shoe S is supported in inverted position, as in Fig. 1, with the upper projecting surface of the sole resting on the work support I 2.

The welt strip W, which is initially of flat form, is fed into the guide slot l1, Hi from the lower face of the free end of the work support and, due to the angular branches l1 and I8 of the slot, the welt strip is bent as indicated in Fig. 1, with the portion thereof in guide branch ll disposed within the range of the needle and awl, whereby it is stitched into position by the outseam which also stitches the outsole in position.

The branch l8 of the guide slot is, however, disposed out of range of the needle and awl, whereby the bent portion of the welt strip therein extends freely along the lower outer wall of the upper of the shoe in the provision of a welt resembling a storm welt as well as one which substantially enhances the appearance of the shoe.

It is to be observed that the branch I! of the welt guide slot is wider than the branch l8, but the branches may be of equal width or the branch [8 may be wider than branch ll, should it be desired to have a higher projecting free portion on the attached welt strip.

While I have disclosed my invention in accordance with a single specific embodiment thereof, such is to be considered as illustrative only, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the following claims:

What I claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. A welt guide for stitch-down shoe sewing machines comprising in combination with a work support having a smooth uninterrupted curved surfac'e' at its guiding free end and a needle and awl-receiving slot rearwardly of the free end, a welt strip guide slot including angu larly arranged branches disposed in advance of the needle and awl-receiving slot and extending through the work support adjacent to and inwardly of the outer surface of thecur'ved free end thereof. v v

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said branches are in acute angular relationship in general conformity with the work support which is engageable in the recess defined between the shoe upper and the out-turned margin thereof.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein one of said branches is substantially horizontal and in longitudinal alinement with said needle and awl slot and the other branch is disposed outwardly of the outer wall of said needle and awl-slot.

JOSEPH S. SPA'IOLA.

REFERENCES CITED '-"ihe following references are of record in the "Country Date Switzerland Jan. 16, 1925 Number 

